Faith Mission offering shelter from the storm

Dip in temps tries resources

Claire Kowalick/Times Record News
A woman walks into the Faith Mission on Travis Street on Tuesday.

Claire Kowalick/Times Record New

A man crosses Travis Street on Tuesday on his way to the Faith Mission.

Claire Kowalick/Times Record New

As windchill temperatures continue to flirt with zero degrees through Thursday night, some have turned to Wichita Falls' Faith Mission for resources that have become unobtainable for them due to the dip in temperature.

The shelter has provided 10 to 40 pairs of gloves each day in January. Along with warm clothing, the shelter provides people with daily meals, said Becky Browning, Faith Mission's marketing director.

"A lot of men and women from the community come in and eat meals here," Browning said. "They've put all their money into getting their heat on and their apartments or homes ready so they are lacking a little bit for food."

Browning believes Faith Mission is "always prepared" for higher demand during the winter months due to higher donations that came in during the holiday season.

"Something that people don't understand is with our increase of population, our water bill goes up and our food bill goes up," she said.

Energy bills may also be a concern for customers heating apartments and homes.

Randy West, manager of public affairs for Atmos Energy, believes customers are at an advantage this year when paying gas bills. According to West, the price of natural gas is down, giving customers a rate of $5.50 per 1,000 cfm plus delivery cost. Winter gas prices regularly reach $13 per 1,000 cfm, West said.

According to West, there is no correlation between the temperature and the number of customers recently disconnected from service with Atmos Energy.

For those who cannot afford to heat their homes, the Faith Mission offers beds to stay the night.

Since temperatures dropped, the shelter has experienced a 15 percent increase in people who have spent the night, Browning said. Among them were three families and six children.

According to shelter rules, people other than participants in a recovery program are allowed to stay 10 days per month in the shelter, but the rule is lifted when the temperature dips below 40 degrees.

Wichita Falls should get a break today with an expected high of 36, said John Pike, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Norman, Okla.

"By Thursday we're going to get a return of more southerly air," Pike said.

Temperatures are expected to reach 50 by Friday, followed by a weak cold front arriving Sunday evening or Monday morning, Pike said.

The Texas Department of Transportation began providing courtesy patrols as temperatures dropped Tuesday night. According to TxDOT, the patrols will assist stranded motorists reach their destinations safely.